Atari Jaguar reliability

[sheath]

The Jaguar is the only early 90s US console I don't own besides the NEO GEO. I want one for access to its library. I keep seeing "untested" or other seemingly minor hardware problem Jaguars on ebay going for what I would be willing to pay if I can fix it.

Is there a list of common hardware issues and tutorials to fix them online? Do most of the fixes involve simple capacitor replacements? I'd like to know, as I have no interest in owning Jaguar's for spare parts.

I am trying to minimize the cost of getting into the console as much as possible.

[Peonpiate]

Jaguar itself is usually pretty reliable, about even with other cartridge consoles [not counting the Toaster NES, which is pretty horrible]. The Jaguar CD otoh is a whole nother story, and many of those are defective nowadays in one way or another.

I dont know of a list of Jaguar hardware issues, but Atariage.com is where you want to go for anything like that. Most problems are likely easy to fix btw, since capacitors are usually what die out first in cart based consoles.

[sheath]

Thanks for the feedback. This is what I have figured out as well. It occurred to me that Jaguar prices hiked so high because of hardware failure rather than simple scarcity.

I would feel a lot more confident if there were any "how to fix this common Jaguar issue" tutorials currently online though.

[Peonpiate]

NP, there isnt a official list but Atariage is the next best thing. If you have any troubles with a Jaguar one of the guys on the forums there would be able to offer suggestions on what the problem is and how to fix it.

[FABombjoy]

As long as you:

1: Never use the wrong power supply
2: Gently insert & remove carts

...a Jaguar should remain trouble-free. The only reoccurring, albeit non-common problem that I can recall hearing about is bent pins in the cart slot. I've had it happen to one of mine, and as much as it looks like a PCI slot, it's not the same.

[sheath]

Okay, that is the next best thing to hear. If somebody on ebay has a perfect rating with tons of sales and says "as is" I'd like to think whatever the issue is I can fix. I guess I will find out soon though.

[retroman]

i own both Jag and Jagcd, have had them since the day they each came out, and have had no major problems with either...

[FABombjoy]

By wrong power supply, I should really say "wrong type". There are a ton of power supplies that work fine with the Jaguar: Genesis-1, TG16, Jag/Jag CD, Master System, all part of what I call the "Type O" power supply line

Unfortunately, if the wrong supply is used, the console doesn't even have to be powered up for the damage to occur. Like all other Atari consoles, part of the system is powered even with the switch turned off. Usually either a filter cap or voltage regulator is blown out and should be fairly obvious when inspected. The regulator used in the Jaguar isn't quite as easy to come by as the typical 7805 of other game systems, but still obtainable.

[sheath]

Okay, I just scored a Jaguar with three games for $155. I feel fairly good about this though it is obviously not a steal. Provided it works I will be very happy with complete versions of Doom and AvP, and Tempest cart only.

If the Jaguar doesn't work my slight savings is going to turn into cost quickly.

[sheath]

It's here and everything works great!

Now to get to work on some videos.

[sheath]

In my search for extension cables, I found this page from Best Electronics. It has a troubleshooting section for some common Jaguar issues.

I noticed the "red screen of death" right after I fired up the console for the first time. Resetting the cart after resetting the system, and cleaning the cart pins with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol, solved it for me.

Does the Jaguar normally give this red screen at the Jaguar logo when the cart doesn't read? I have only seen it a few times, but I wanted to make sure I didn't get sold before my return period was up.

[FABombjoy]

Yep, that's exactly what it does.

If you decide to clean the cart connector on the Jag, do so delicately (reference previous comments on bent pins).

[sheath]

Okay thanks. I can definitely deal with maintaining clean carts. That "dieing motherboard component" possibility had me worried though.

[Cloud121]

Okay, now I'm having issues with my Jaguar. I was playing Doom and Raiden the other day, and everything was working fine.

Next day I decide I want to play some Wolfenstein. No matter what I did with cleaning the cart and slot, along with wiggling the cart around, I always got a the red screen. Same with Alien vs Predator, Cybermorph, and Zool 2. But Doom was somehow still working fine, albeit after a couple tries, unlike the day before when it would boot without a hitch.

[FABombjoy]

Check the cart slot a bent pin.